It ran a fringe event at the college’s annual meeting in Liverpool to inform nurses and other healthcare professionals of its ‘teachable moments’ – when young people are out of their comfort zone and may be willing to talk about what has led them to be in hospital.

'Young people want to talk to us'

St Mary’s Redthread team leader Julia Mayer said young people disclose information to her in five minutes in a hospital setting, a result which could take years in the community.

‘I am amazed, literally every day, that young people want to talk to us and are so open,’ she said.

She said spikes in referrals to the charity vary across the week, and are not always at weekends as might be expected. The team works from 7.30am to 9.30pm six days a week.

Spikes in referrals

‘We see a lot of young people come in on Saturday nights, but usually there’s a spike on Tuesdays too. We have two spikes during the day – one between 11am and midday and one at about 7-8pm.’